Multiple line-filler



Aug. 13, 1963 Filed July 25, 1960 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL MULTIPLELINE-FILLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTORS FM M g- 1963 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL3,100,513

MULTIPLE LINEFILLER Filed July 25, 1960 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

INVENTOR Aug. 13, 1963 J. M. cozzou ETAL 3,100,513

' MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER Filed July 25, 1960 I 5 Sheets-$139511; 3

FIG.3.

Aug. 13, 1963 J. M. cozzou ETAL 3,100,513

MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER Filed July 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORSFlG.4. NW9)":

BY FM Aug. 13, 1963 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL 3,100,513

MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER Filed July 25, 1960 i '5 Sheets-Sheet s UnitedStates Patent 3,100,513 MULTIPLE LHNE=FILLER Joseph M. Cozzoii, NorthPiainfield, and Harold F. Scribner, Westfieid, N.J., assignors toCozzoii Machine Company, Plainfield, N .J a corporation of New JerseyFiled July 25, 1960, Ser. No. 45,089

8 (Jlaims. (Q1. MIL-102) This invention relates to multiple fillingmachines more particularly of the type by which unit quantities of aliquid product is measured and dispensed into containers thatautomatically are brought into registry with the filling needles.

A primary aim of the invention is the construction of a straight-linefiller that will dispense precisely measured amounts of the product intocontainers that are moved single-file into and away from the fillingzone. The invention comprehends, preferably, a machine having acontinuously moving conveyor upon which the containers are placed atspaced intervals timed to arrive in groups at the filling zone and tobecome registered with the filling needles at the start of each fillingcycle. A further aim of the invention is to provide a bank of verticallyand laterally movable filling needles whose rate of forward travelcoincides with the rate of movement of the containers and whose verticalmovements coincide in general with the starting and ending of thefilling cycle. The construction and purpose is to have the fillingneedles enter the moving containers prior to the .start of the fill,move laterally with the containers during the fill, leave the containersafter completing the fill, and then back travel at an accelerated rateto their starting point at which time another bank or group ofcontainers will have arrived at the filling zone.

Still another aim of the invention is the construction of a practicalmachine by which two or more measured units-of-fill may be dispensedinto each bank of moving containers. The aim and purpose being toproduce a machine capable of dispensing two different products into thecontainers successively, or of dispensing two measured quantities ordosages of the same product into the containers successively. By way ofexample, a machine arranged to fill eight containers at a time on eachfilling cycle may in accordance with this invention be re-arranged tofill four containers at a time but with two shots of measured quantitiesof the product or products in each bank. In the latter case the productsmay be different and/or the quantities may be different. The flexibilityof a filler of this character renders it most suitable for high ormedium production rates of the same product or for the packaging of atleast two different products in each container.

Still a further aim of the invention is the construction of a multiplestraight-line filler in which provision is made for varying the extentof needle penetration into the vial or container and/or its rate ofwithdrawal from the container. The aim being to provide for the deliveryof the product into the container from a constant height as in suchcases where the product has little tendency to foam or from a variableheight, for example a bottomup-fill as for a foamy product, where theneedle should move upwardly during the filling cycle.

By way of further refinement the invention aims to provide a line-fillerthat not only will dispense accurately measured quantities of the liquidproduct but one in which the flow of the product from the needles issharply cut olf at the end of the filling stroke so that there is nodrip or dripping from the needles on their return travel over emptycontainers as the latter move into the filling area.

Another aim of the invention is the provision of means 3,100,513Patented Aug. i3, 1963 for stopping the fill should a blank occur in theline of containers. Preferably the blank-detecting means is locatedahead of the bank of containers in the filling zone so that a stoppingof the filling operation during a fill can occur only when a full bankof containers is in position and so that .on the restarting ofoperations the remaining portion of the fill occurs in the same bank ofcontainers.

In carrying forward the objectives of the invention it is proposed toprovide a main frame unit that houses the transmission elements andwhich supports on one side a conveyor structure and on another side oneor more banks of measuring units of the piston-and-cylinder type.Cyclically operated valve means associated with the filling units areprovided to conduct the liquid product to and from the cylinders. Thevalves are connected by flexible tubing to filling needles or nozzlesthat are mounted over the conveyor to a vertically and laterally movablecarriage. Both conveyor and filling units are driven from a commonsource and are timed so that the conveyor moves the distance of one fullbank of containers while the filling units make one complete intake anddischarge cycle. Inasmuch as the filling units are crank operated theydispense liquid during one-half a cycle (180) and take in liquid on theother half cycle (180). Allowing approximately 30 part of a cycle forthe needles to descend, 180 for dispensing, and 30 for elevating, thetotal forward movement of the needles while in registry with thecontainers is 240 cycle). The remaining is for the return travel andwhich if moved at twice the speed of the forward travel, brings theneedles back to their starting point ready for forward movement by thetime the previously filled bank of containers move out of the fillingarea and a next succeeding new bank of containers move in.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the same in the various waycontemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typicalconstruction have been annexed as apart of this disclosure and, in suchdrawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughout all the views, of which:

FIGURE 1 of the drawings is a front view of a filling machine embodyingthe invention with a portion of the conveyor broken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown. in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view on an enlarged scale showing portions of the drivemechanisms.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a number of the variabledisplacement,positive-delivery, measuring units with their associated valves andactuating means.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the final portions of the conveyor drive means.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a container-registering coupling in theconveyor drive.

FIG. 7 is a detail View of the needle elevating cams.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of the blank detecting cam with alternatenotches blanked off for a double-fill set up.

FIGS. 9 and were schematic views of an eight-fill and a four-fill set uprespectively, to illustrate the relation and distances of needle travelto conveyor travel in each case.

Referring moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 the filling machineillustrated comprises, essentially, a main frame structure A thatsupports along'its front edge a conveyor structure C. The rear side ofthe main frame structure supports a series of filling units F in thisinstance eight, that deliver predetermined quantities of the 6 productto needles N that are carried by a vertically movable and laterallyshiftable needle carriage B. The dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 representflexible hose connections between the filling-unit valves V and thefilling needles N.

Power for actuating the filling units and for driving the conveyor insynchronism starts with a suitable motor M that drives a speed reducerthrough V-belts 31 and a variable speed mechanism VS. The output shaftof the reducer connects by means of'a chain and sprocket 32 with asprocket 33 on a horizontal crank shaft 34. Bevel gears 35 transmit thepower to a vertical shaft shaft 36 which in turn transmits the powerthrough another set of bevel gears 37 to a horizontal shaft 38 thatcarries a number of cams and also provides power to drive the conveyor.The various shafts mentioned are all journaled in suitable bearings aswill be understood.

The rear end of the crank-shaft 34 has a combined crank-and-valve cam 40fixed thereto. A crank rod 41 pivoted to the crank-cam 40 at one end andto a curved pivoted arm 42 at its other end causes the pivoted arm tooscillate as the crank revolves. As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 4the curved arm 42 is pivoted at one end to. a support 43 and carries aradially adjustable yoke 44. The yoke 44 in' turn pivotally connectswith a slide connecting rod 45 whose upper end pivotally connects with avertically movable slide 46. The inside of the slide 46 is provided withhearing blocks 47 that slide on guide posts48. Normally the yoke piece44 is clamped as at 49 to the curved arm 42 in a selected positiontoward or away from the pivot 43. As will be seen in FIG. 4 the curvedarm has a constant stroke responsive to the throw of the crank-cam 40.However, by shifting the yoke piece along the curved arm 42 from oneposition to another the resulting reciprocatory movement impartedthrough rod 45 to the slide 46 may be varied from Zero stroke to maximumstroke.

As illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 each filling unit includesa piston 50 and a cylinder 51. The lower end of the cylinder has apivotal connection 52 with the slide 46 whereas the piston element isscrew threaded into the stationary body of the valve V. The valve bodycontains a shiftable valve element 53 having through ports 54 anddiagonal ports 55. When the valve element is in one position of itsshift the through port places the interior of the piston 50 incommunication with the discharge port 56 and when in the other positionof its shift places the interior of the piston in communication with asupply port 57. Each valve piston is keyed as at 58 to a shiftable bar59 and the latter is connected by means of .alink 60 to the upper end ofa pivoted lever 61. The lower end of lever 61 pivotally connects withthe yoke 62 that has a fixed camfollower 63 and a circumferentiallymovable follower 64 oppositely related and lying in the plane of thevalve portion of the crank cam 40. The valve portion of the crank cam isprovided with diametrically opposed high and low portions withconnecting ascending and descending portions. Accordingly, as the camrevolves the followers 63 and 64 are actuated laterally, first in onedirection and then in the other and this motion is transmitted throughthe yoke 62, lever 61, link 60, bar 57 to the valve pistons 53. Therelationship of the valve and crank is such that as the slide 46 isactuated downwardly for a filling unit intake stroke the valve isshifted to connect the cylinder with the intake port 57 and supply line57a. At the end of the intake stroke the valve is shifted to its otherposition to connect the cylinder with the discharge port 56 thatconnects with the filling needles N.

One of the needles is shown in FIG. 3 and comprises a tubular stem whoseinterior communicates with hose line 20 and the valve V and a centeringcone unit 71 that is vertically slidable on the exterior of the needle.The centering cone of each needle is suspended from a needle carryingbar 72 by means of a pair of guide rods stroke from discharge to intake,to a position slightly 4 73. The purpose of the centering cone units isto bring the tops of the containers-into registry with the ends of thefilling needles as they enter the containers.

To avoid drip on the return travel of the needles, the adjustable camfollower 64 (FIG. 4) may be moved angularly with relation to cam 40 froma position whereat valve shift occurs coincidently with the change inlater in time so that the filling needles remain connected with theinterior of the filling units during the initial portion of their intakestrokes. Such an adjustment has the effect of pulling back from theneedle ends the final drop of product that would otherwise adherethereto. For this reason the follower 64 is carried on an angularlyadjustable arm 65 whose outer end carries a pivotal nut 66 threaded onrod 67 that is journaled in the yoke 62. A flexible shaft 63 connectedwith the rod 67 and with a hand knob 69 at the front of the machine isprovided to make the adjustment.

Needle Carriage (FIGS. 1 and 3) As indicated above the filling needles Nare mounted to a vertically movable and laterally shift-able carriage B.The needle bar 72 projects from a plate 75 that is vertically adjustableon the roller-carriage frame 76. Roll-er bearings 77 at the top and:bottom and front and rear and at each end of the carriage support andguide the carriage on a traverse rail 78. The rail 78 is mount ed ateach end to vertically movable posts 79 that are journaled for verticalmovement in bearings 80 provided by the main frame. Within the frame,each post carries a block 61 against which a follower roller 82 on lever83 operates. The levers 83 are pivoted at 84 and carry intermediatefollowers 85 that track the surface of elevating cams =86. The cams 86are provided at each endof the horizontal shaft 38 and include mastercams =86 contoured to give the maximum stroke, and removable plate cams86a, 86b, 86c (indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 7) that when attachedto the master cams provide selected shorter strokes. The master cams arepinned to the horizontal shaft in angular phase relation with thestrokes of the filling units so that the up and down movements of theneedles are coordinated with the filling cycle.

Needle Traverse Mounted on the main crank shaft 34 is a box cam 90having a groove 91 that is tracked by a roller 92 mounted on aconnecting rod structure 93. The connecting rod 93 straddles the crankshaft 34 and is provided at its outer end with a pair of flanges 94 thatin turn straddle a needle-carriage traverse lever 95. The lower end ofthe traverse lever is pivotally supported in a bearing 96 in the lowerportion of the main frame and its upper end carries a follower roll '97that tracks a vertical groove 98 in an extension 99 of the needlecarriage B. The flanged end of the connecting rod structure 93 containstwo pivot-pin holes 100a and 100b, one above the other and spaced equalunit distances from the lever pivot 96. correspondingly located holesare provided in the traverse lever 95, and by inserting a single pivotpin 101 in one of the sets of holes the stroke of the traverse lever inresponse to the fixed throw of the box cam 90 may be selectively variedfrom a fullstroke (NF, FIG. 9) to one-half stroke (NF, FIG. 10). The boxcam 90 is pinned to the main crank shaft in phase relation with thecycle of the filling units so that the needle carriage moves forwardduring the container-filling portion of the cycle and retracts duringthe intake portion of the filling cycle.

Container Conveyor (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5) The container conveyor C includesa framing which supports a flat-top chain 105 that tracks chainsprockets at each end. (The loading end of the conveyor is not shown forthe reason it may extend ahead of the main machine any convenientdistance as may he desired.) The plate-top chain is, however, providedwith container drive lugs 106 at uniformly spaced intervals throughoutits length, against which the containers to be filled are placed eithermanually or automatically. Power to move the conveyor is taken from theouter end of the horizontal shaft 38 through electively operable drivechains 11W and 103.

A pair of drive sprockets 1G? and 1-10 are loosely mounted on shaft 38but either may be connected with the shaft by means of a shiftable pin111 that is contained in a clutch spool 112. The spool is tight on shaft3?: between the two sprockets. The clutch spool is slotted and recessedas at 113 to receive the head and shank of a clamp screw that is carriedby the clutch pin 111. When the head of the screw is backed out of therecess in the spool, the clutch .pin may be shifted to the left or rightinto clutch-pin holes provided in the sprockets whereby one or the otheris locked with the drive shaft 38.

The drive chains 107 and 1% drive sprockets 113 and 114 on a shaft 116that connects with one-half of a coupling 11?. The other half of thecoupling connects with a bevel-gear shaft 118 and bevel gears 119transmit the power to the conveyor-sprocket drive shaft 120. Drivesprocket-s 109 and 1111 have, in this instance, a change-speed ratio ofl to 2 so that if sprocket 109 is clutched to the driving shaft theconveyor moves a distance equal to a full bank (8) of containers percycle, whereas if sprocket 11111 is clutched to the driving shaft theconveyor moves a distance equal to one-half bank (4) of containers percycle.

It has been mentioned above that the drive lugs 106 on the conveyorchain serve to maintain the containers uniformly spaced, which spacingis equivalent to the fixed spacing of the needles on the needlecarriage. However, as containers to be filled may vary in size from onerun to another, the position of the drive lugs relative to the needlesmust change whenever the container diameter is changed so that the axisof the open mouths of the containers coincide with the filling needleaxis. The two-part coupling unit 117 between shatts 116 and 118 provideconvenient means for advancing or retracting the position of theconveyor drive lugs, and which includes clamping screws 117;: that passthrough arcuate slots in one member of the coupling and are threadedinto the other. If desired one of the coupling members may he graduatedas at 1172) to facilitate obtaining theneoessary adjustment.

Blank Detector (FIGS. 3 and 8) Should one omit to place a containeragainst the drive lug on the conveyor, blank detecting means is providedahead of the filling zone to stop the filling. In th s instance thedetector comprises -a roller i125 carried at the end of a reciprocableguide rod 126. The rod 126 carries an adjustable spool 127 that isengaged by a pin on the free end of the lever 128. The lever 1 28 isfixed to a rock shaft 123 that mounts at its inner end another lever13%. The free end of lever 13% carries a follower 13 1 that tracks anotched earn 132 mounted on the horizontal shaft 38. The lever 130 isspring loaded by a pullspring 133 against the cam. The master detectorcam 132 is provided, in this instance, with eight recesses ordepressions 132:: '(FIG. 8) related to the follower 131 and withdetector roller 125 so as to cause the detector roller 125 to move in(toward the containers on the conveyor) as each container passes and tomove out as the space between containers is passing. When containers tobe filled are present on the conveyor the inward movement of thedetector roll 12-5 is obstructed by the containers whereas if acontainer is absent the detector roller moves all the Way in at whichtime a pin 130a on the follower lever 13% engages and actuates a cutoutswitch 134 connected in the control circuit of the main drive motor M tostop the machine. Restarting of the machine is accomplished by placing acontainer in position in front of the detector roller 125 and pressingthe Start button.

To adapt the detecting mechanism to containers of a diiferent size thedetector rod spool 127 is uncl-amped from the rod 126 and the rod androller 125 adjusted inwardly or outwardly according to containerdiameter. Adjustable guide rails 135 are provided along each side of theconveyor to maintain the straight-line formation as the containers aremoved through the filling zone.

When the machine is changed over from an eight-fillper-cycle operationto a four-fill-per-cycle operation (double fill) .a two part blankingcam 1321: is applied to the master detector cam 132. The blanking cam isformed with four recesses and four high portions that register with theeight recesses of the master cam and it is the four high portions thatcyclically hold the detector follower roll 131 out of alternate pocketsof the master cam (to prevent switch operation) when the change is madefrom an eight-fill operation to la four-fill operation. Due to thegeared relation of a l to 1 ratio of the horizontal shaft 38 with themain crank shaft 34 each shaft turns one complete revolution per fillingcycle. Hence, on an eight-fill setup the detector mechanism must detecteight incoming containers per cycle, and on a four-fill setupthedetector must detect on four incoming containers per cycle. In thelatter case the blanking cams 13% are applied to the master cam toblank-off the intermediate notches.

Operation Having explained the structure and operation of the individualcomponents of the invention i.e. the main drive, the filling units andvalves, drop drawback, vertical and lateral traverse of the fillingneedles, conveyor drive and container registering means, blankdetecting, and adjustments for fill quality and container size,eight-fill and fourfill setups it is appropriate to refer to FIGS. 9 and10 and summarize the cooperation of the more important features. Thesefigures are diagrammatic, however, FIG. 9 represents an eight-fill setupin which the traverse cam connecting rod 93 is pivotally connected totraverse lever in the lower pin hole 101a. 'I'he climbing side of thebox cam 90 is approximately /3 revolution and the descending side /arevolution on every filling cycle. During the climb (approx. 240)portion of the traverse earn the needle carriage will be moved forward alinear distance CF during which time the filling crank 40 is movingthrough 240 of which only 180 is discharge. Hence, the forward movementof the needle carriage is greater in angular degrees than the dischargestroke of the filling units which provides time at each end of thefilling stroke to lower and raise the filling needles. By the timeforward movement of the needle carriage ceases it will have been raiseduntil the needles are out of the containers and the filling units willhave started on their intake strokes. During the remaining /3 turn ofthe traverse cam 90 the needle carriage is retracted to its startingposition. Meanwhile, the container conveyor will have moved thecontainers forward .a distance CF and a new bank of containers will havebeen brought into registry with the filling needles by the time theneedle carriage starts its next forward movement.

FIG. 10 represents a four-fill setup, for which the pivot pin of theconnecting rod 93 is removed from the lower hole and inserted in theupper hole 10112 of the traverse lever 95. When so positioned the needlecarriage and its bank of eight needles N will move forward a lineardistance NF, during the 240 climb portion of the cam 90 and theremaining of the cam will retract the carriage to the point of starting.The filling units will have been operated exactly as before explainedand the containers will have been moved a distance CF. To shorten theconveyor travel for the four-fill setup the clutch p-in 111 is shiftedfrom the large sprocket 109 to the small sprocket 110, as previouslyexplained. An important advantage to this convertibility feature lies inthe fact that four containers receive product from the first group offour needles of the eight-needle-bank in one cycle and the same fourcontainers receive product from the second group of four needles on thenext succeeding cycle. Hence, after the machine is operating, andexcepting the first four containers, each container will receive twofills. The two 'fills may, of course, be fractional quantities of thesame product or each may be a different product depending upon thesolutions supplied to the respective banks of four filling units.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, fromthe standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention, and therefore, such adaptations should be, and areintended to be, comprehended the meaning and range of equivalency of thefollowing claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure the following procedural combinations, elements, or equivalentsthereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A filling machine comprising a main frame, a conveyor structure meansmounted to one side of the frame for supporting containers arranged in afile for filling and for moving them in the direction of the file duringthe filling operation, a plurality of filling units mounted to the frameopposite the conveyor, each of said filling units comprising a pistonand a relatively reciprocable cooperating cylinder and valve meansoperative to direct fluid to be dispensed alternately to and from thecylinder, a series of filling needles mounted in single file spacedrelation 'over the conveyor for movement vertically and laterally inrelation to the conveyor,- flexible tubing connections between the valvemeans of the filling units and the needles of a length suflicient topermit the needles to move laterally and vertically on each operatingcycle, means for actuating each of said filling units to cause ameasured quantity of liquid medium to be dispensed on each operatingcycle, means for driving the conveyor continuously at a rate such thatit travels a constant unit distance during each operating cycle of thefilling units, and means for moving the filling needles vertically andlaterally in a rectangular path in time with the movement of theconveyor and in time with the operation of the filling units so as tocause the filling needles to descend and move laterally with theconveyor for a fraction of the unit distance the conveyor travels perfilling cycle so that containers are filled as they move in thedirection of the file and to elevate and retract to their starting pointduring the remaining fraction of said unit distance that the conveyortravels per filling cycle, the relative distances that the fillingneedles move forward and the conveyor travels per filling cycle being onthe order of 2 to 3, re spectively, so that the filling needles willhave returned to their starting points in time for a repeat fillingcycle on a next succeeding group of containers carried on the conveyor.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which a master-cam means andcooperating follower effect the vertical movement of the filling needlesthrough a normally fixed stroke, and including replaceable auxiliary-cammeans adapted for attachment to the master-cam means for reducing thestroke normally effected by the master-cam means, and in which a secondcam means and a cooperatting follower effect the lateral movement, saidlast mentioned follower being mounted upon a pivoted lever Whose freeend has a pin-and-slot' connection with the filling needles, the saidslot being vertically arranged so that a change in the vertical strokeimparted to the needles has no effect upon the rate of their lateraltravel.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means for changing the distancethe filling needles move laterally units to dispense fluid medium intothe same bank of containers on the next succeeding operation cycle ofthe filling units.

4. In a multiple filling machine of the character described thecombination comprising a vertically movable rail member, a needlecarriage movable laterally along the said rail member, a lever memberpivoted at one end to a relatively stationary part of the machine andhaving a pin-and-slot connection at its free end with said needlecarriage, constant-throw cam means including a connecting rodoperatively connected between the cam and said pivoted lever foractuating said lever about its pivot point to cause said carriage tomove laterally on the rail, said connecting rod having ratio-changingpoints of connection with said pivoted lever so that the stroke oflateral movement imparted to the pivoted lever and to the needlecarriage in response to the fixed throw of the cam may be varied inproportion to the change in lever-ratio incident to change in the pointof connection of the connecting rod with said lever.

5. A multiple filling machine of the character described having, acontinuously moving conveyor on which containers to be filled are placedsingle-file in uniformly spaced relation for movement into a fillingzone for filling in groups of a preselected number simultaneously oneach filling cycle, blank detecting means upstream from the filling zoneoperative in timed relation with the filling cycle and with the rate ofmovement of the conveyor to. sense the passing of each of the containersin said group and to suspend the operation of the filling cycle shouldbe blank occur in the file of containers, means for changing the rate oftravel of the conveyor per filling cycle and therefore the lineardistance the conveyor and the containers move on each filling cycle, sothat a lesser number of containers move into the filling zone on eachfilling cycle, and means for synchronizing the effective action of thedetecting means in accordance with the reduced number of containers thatare caused to pass per filling cycle.

6. Container filling apparatus comprising, a main frame member, aconveyor structure means mounted to the front of said frame member forsupporting containers arranged in a file for filling and for moving themin a horizontal path in the direction of the file during the fillingoperation, a relatively stationary bank comprising at least two fillingunits of the positive-displacement type mounted to the rear of saidframe member, container filling needles mounted above and aligned withcontainers on the conveyor for movement in said horizontal path in timedrelation with the movement of the conveyor, flexible tubing connectionsbetween said filling units and said filling needles, said tubingconnections being of a length such as to permit the needles to move withthe containers during the filling operation, power means in cluding acrank member for cyclically actuating said filling units through anintake and a discharge stroke to cause fluid received from a source ofsupply to be delivered in measured quantities through said tubingconnections to said needles, said power means including a gear train forcontinuously moving said conveyor, and said power means also havingoperative connections with said filling needles to cause the needles tomove at a synchronized rate with the conveyor during a discharge strokeof the filling units whereby to cause containers to be filled as theyare moved in the direction of the file and to cause the needles to moveat an accelerated rate against the movement of the. conveyor during anintake stroke of the filling units so as to be in filling position witha next succeeding group of continuously advancing con- 9 tainers andready to move therewith on the next filling cycle.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which the filling needles are mountedfor vertical movement toward and away from the conveyor structure meansand in which the said power means includes additional operativeconnections with the needles for causing the needles to move verticallytoward the conveyor stnucture means prior to the start of the fillingcycle and and vertically away from the ,ocnveyor structure means oncompletion of the filling cycle.

8. A container filling machine comprising, a main frame member, aconveyor structure means mounted to said frame member for supporting andmoving containers in single-file relation into and out of a fillingzone, a relatively stationary bank of at least two filling units of thepositive-displacement type mounted to said frame member, containerfilling needles mounted above the conveyor for movement in timedrelation therewith, flexible tubing connections between said fillingunits and said needles of a length sufiicient to permit the needles tomove with the containers during a filling cycle, power means forcyclically actuating said filling units at a constant rate, said powermeans having connections with said conveyor structure means forcontinuously moving the conveyor a given lineal distance during eachcycle of the filling units, and said power means also having operativeconnections with said filling needles to cause the needles to move withthe conveyor in the discharge cycle of the filling units and contra tothe movement of the conveyor on the intake cycle of the filling units,and means for shortening the linear distance the conveyor moves and thelinear distance the said filling needles are caused to move per cycle ofoperation of the filling units so that a portion of the filling unitsand filling needles dispense fluid medium into a group of containers onan operating cycle and another portion of the filling units and fillingneedles dispense fluid medium into the same group of containers on thenext succeeding operating cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,451,431 Myers Apr. 10, 1923 1,700,494 Harrington Jan. 29, 19291,992,464 Blackman Feb. 26, 1935 2,368,738 Bergm-ann Feb. 6, 19452,388,036 Bingham Oct. 30, 1945 2,757,844 Greissrnan Aug. 7, 19562,999,517 'Cervinka Sept. 12, 1961

1. A FILLING MACHINE COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME, A CONVEYOR STRUCTURE MEANSMOUNTED TO ONE SIDE OF THE FRAME FOR SUPPORTING CONTAINERS ARRANGED IN AFILE FOR FILLING AND FOR MOVING THEM IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FILE DURINGTHE FILLING OPERATION, A PLURALITY OF FILLING UNITS MOUNTED TO THE FRAMEOPPOSITE THE CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID FILLING UNITS COMPRISING A PISTONAND A RELATIVELY RECIPROCABLE COOPERATING CYLINDER AND VALVE MEANSOPERATIVE TO DIRECT FLUID TO BE DISPENSED ALTERNATELY TO AND FROM THECYLINDER, A SERIES OF FILLING NEEDLES MOUNTED IN SINGLE FILE SPACEDRELATION OVER THE CONVEYOR FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY INRELATION TO THE CONVEYOR, FLEXIBLE TUBING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE VALVEMEANS OF THE FILLING UNITS AND THE NEEDLES OF A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TOPERMIT THE NEEDLES TO MOVE LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY ON EACH OPERATINGCYCLE, MEANS FOR ACTUATING EACH OF SAID FILLING UNITS TO CAUSE AMEASURED QUANTITY OF LIQUID MEDIUM TO BE DISPENSED ON EACH OPERATINGCYCLE, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE CONVEYOR CONTINUOUSLY AT A RATE SUCH THATIT TRAVELS A CONSTANT UNIT DISTANCE DURING EACH OPERATING CYCLE OF THEFILLING UNITS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE FILLING NEEDLES VERTICALLY ANDLATERALLY IN A RECTANGULAR PATH IN TIME WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THECONVEYOR AND IN TIME WITH THE OPERATION OF THE FILLING UNITS SO AS TOCAUSE THE FILLING NEEDLES TO DESCEND AND MOVE LATERALLY WITH THECONVEYOR FOR A FRACTION OF THE UNIT DISTANCE THE CONVEYOR TRAVELS PERFILLING CYCLE SO THAT CONTAINERS ARE FILLED AS THEY MOVE IN THEDIRECTION OF THE FILE AND TO ELEVATE AND RETRACT TO THEIR STARTING POINTDURING THE REMAINING FRACTION OF SAID UNIT DISTANCE THAT THE CONVEYORTRAVELS PER FILLING CYCLE, THE RELATIVE DISTANCES THAT THE FILLINGNEEDLES MOVE FORWARD AND THE CONVEYOR TRAVELS PER FILLING CYCLE BEING ONTHE ORDER OF 2 TO 3, RESPECTIVELY, SO THAT THE FILLING NEEDLES WILL HAVERETURNED TO THEIR STARTING POINTS IN TIME FOR A REPEAT FILLING CYCLE ONA NEXT SUCCEEDING GROUP OF CONTAINERS CARRIED ON THE CONVEYOR.